BEIJING – China said on Friday it halted railroad freight traffic with North Korea as it deals with the spread of COVID-19 in the border town of Dandong.
The countries had reopened trade between Dandong and North Korea´s Sinuiju in January following a two-year pause while the North imposed one of the world’s most restrictive pandemic border closures despite the strain on its broken economy.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Friday according to AP that the decision to suspend the freight services was taken “in light of the current epidemic situation in Dandong,” but he gave no other details.
The Dandong city government on Monday ordered all residents to swiftly return home and stay there to stem the spread of the virus. It said the government would make strenuous efforts to ensure the daily needs of residents but made no mention of links with North Korea and did not say when the lockdown would be lifted.
While many countries are dropping restrictions and trying to live with the virus, China has been sticking to a “zero-COVID” approach, which requires mass testing and lockdowns and keeping its international borders largely shut.
North Korea´s decision to tentatively reopen-cross border trade with China, its main ally and economic lifeline, possibly reflected a growing urgency in its need for outside relief.
Discussion about this post